My suggestion is to remove all instances of the ZoneAlarm AV+Firewall AS WELL AS WINDOWS DEFENDER. I still use Norton on my main computer, but I have replaced it with Avast on about 25 Customer computers, and I have only had 1 computer come back with Avast running with a Virus, and that's cause the Customer let the Grandkids uninstall the program from their Windows Admin User account. Their product blocks many of the new Ransomware viruses such as the FBI virus that Norton and the other big guys have NOT caught. I'm liking Avast a lot and I've had great success with it in the last year (over 200 Million Users worldwide). You need to check your Control-Panel->Uninstall Programs and eliminate all other A-V programs, such as Norton, McAfee, Trend Micro, AVG, Avira, etc. That's never worked well, and it hasn't worked at all since 2003. The most common mistake my Customer make is that if 1 A-V program is free, why not 2? Or 3? Or 8? Yes, I've had Customers with 8 A-V programs all running at the same time. Enough on the Analogy here I think you get it by now.
It's kind of like buying a high-performance fuel-injection system for your car from a muffler shop-they really don't know fuel-injection systems, as it's not their primary business, but rather a sideline-business, much as A-V software is for Microsoft. It is NOT their primary business, nor is it likely to be anytime soon. Microsoft is good at many, many, things, but one thing the have always lagged in is A-V protection and security software. The report you mention is just one of many that gives the Win8 defender low marks.
I've never been comfortable relying on Microsoft for my protection, and that goes back to 1980 when Anti-Virus protection just came out. Many moderators here and on other Tech Forums I participate in say yes, it's great and others like me who repair broken Windows8 computers say "no". Doesn't mean it's gonna be good.Īs far as your comments about the Windows Defender AV & Firewall that comes with Windows8 that's still open for debate.
Yes, it's free and yes, a lot of people use it-but a lot of people pay too much for their Auto Insurance (what is this a Geico commercial!?). Most major corporations do not use this product. They have had issues going back to Windows98SE. Once again Bassfisher is on the money about the ZoneAlarm AV and Firewall software. Lots of askes about "how to disable network discovery / sharing." Haven't found an answer though :/ I have tried to google and what i understand, it has been problem even in win7.
I had to disable Windows Firewall from services, because it didn't turn off - it also wanted to turn on everytime by itself. When i go back to the settings, they are ON again. file and printer sharing (is ON all the time, even if i turn it off - it won't stay off) network discovery (is ON all the time, even if i turn it off - it won't stay off) I cannot turn off anymore these two settings in "Advanced sharing settings" from profiles "guest or public" OR "private" after I disabled Windows Firewall from services (Im using ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+Firewall): It has to do something with "network discovery" and wlan adapter probably sees those routers/modem. And yes, those must be from another provider (Elisa here i suppose), im using DNA. Those networks is shown even when the laptop is not connected to the router wirelessly.